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Nigel Bosworth, 61, one of the leaders of the group, estimates this will all cost as much as £900 to replace, which their insurance doesn't cover.

Scouts demonstrate the damage (Image: Nigel Bosworth)

The Beeston resident said: "It is frustrating and maddening, all the work we do for the kids and money we raise to buy the equipment – and then you get someone who comes along, takes it and sells it for pennies.

"It's just more fundraising, we are forever having to find money from somewhere. £800 or £900 gone is quite a big one for us.

"It is not me they are stealing from, they are pinching from the kids, this stuff is for them, not for us."

Some of the scouts on the island (Image: Nigel Bosworth)

The base near Barton-in-Fabis is used by around 35 scouts and explorer scouts aged between 10 and 18.

Four years ago the group experienced a number of break ins culminating in a large one which set them back £1,500 but Mr Bosworth had hoped that was all behind them.

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He added that the equipment was used to charge the leaders' phones in emergency situations and the alarm panel and camera would need to be replaced to make it secure again.

It also means they will have to start taking all their equipment off the island and to their land base back in Beeston after every session, taking up a lot of time for the leaders.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: "We received a report of a break-in at the Second Beeston Sea Scout hut, Barton Island, in Barton-in-Fabis, which happened between Wednesday May 16 and Friday May 18.

"It is believed a boat was used to reach the small island near the River Trent before entry was forced. Items taken include a generator and a gas cylinder and regulator.

"Anyone who saw anything suspicious, or has any information, is urged to call us on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 235 of 25 May 2018."